Kasia Adamzyk, Rose Ann Lumbres, Teni Oyeyemi, and Yoonji Sunwoo

Yoonji, a registered nurse in the St. Michael’s Emergency Department (ED), calls her career at Unity Health “endless learning.” That’s in part because in her time here, she has been able to progress through four different roles. 

Yoonji started as a nursing student in inpatient mental health and then went on to become a Clinical Extern – a student in their final years of nursing school hired on as a staff member. Since then, she has worked as a Registered Nurse in the Mental Health Emergency Service Area (MHESA), and now the ED. 

“Unity Health has always made sure I had the support I needed to grow,” she says.

Yoonji is one of the hundreds of staff members that Unity Health supports every year to continue to grow in their careers through innovative education and development programming. With initiatives that include funding for tuition and courses, dedicated education days and grants and scholarships, Unity Health creates opportunities for staff no matter where they are in their learning journey, including supporting them to upskill in their roles and transition to new opportunities within the organization.

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In the EDs at St. Michael’s and St. Joseph’s, pathways to train existing staff to fill vacancies have supported retention efforts and met the goals of staff members who want to stay at Unity Health while continuing to learn and develop in their careers. 

“These are the best of the recruits,” says Orla Smith, Senior Clinical Director, Medicine Program and Emergency Care Program. “They already know the department, the patient population, their teammates and the culture. It’s exciting to help them grow into a new part of their career.”

The EDs have supported all kinds of transitions: from Unit Clerks who are now Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs), to Clinical Assistants who are now Registered Nurses. Read some of their stories and experiences below. 

Kasia started her career at Unity Health as a Unit Clerk in the ED seven years ago.

How did you hear about the opportunity to transition to a different role?

While working as a unit clerk, I was also completing my nursing degree with the aspiration to become a RPN within Unity Health. Naturally, I had been paying attention to different roles that would fit my goals and was able to internally (both through my research as well as staff members referring me) find my current position and transition successfully.

What was the career transition process like?

The career transition process was very smooth. Once I completed my degree (which took me two years) and my management was informed, I efficiently secured my RPN position. My management team as well as staff members were highly supportive and in favour of the transition. Being that I am very familiar with the flow of the department as well as the staff, the transition was very natural and easy.

What does it mean to you that Unity Health supported this career growth and transition?

I feel very lucky and supported by the fact that Unity Health supported my career growth and transition. I am aware of how much my position is an aspiration and an incredibly difficult goal for many to achieve; and the fact that I was able to work within this field for seven years and have the support and push from others has been a great sense of security and motivation.

What has been your favourite part of working in the ED?

Working in the ED has completely flourished my knowledge within the field – having a wide variety of learning opportunities and team members who constantly make you feel supported has made my time in the ED more enjoyable.

Rose Ann started her career at Unity Health as a Clinical Assistant in 2015.

How did you hear about the opportunity to transition to a different role?

I was an Internationally Educated Nurse (IEN) when I came to Canada so it had always been my goal to transition to the RN role. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to work at St. Michael’s as a clinical assistant (CA) while processing my registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO). Working at St. Michael’s had assisted me in getting familiar with the Canadian healthcare system, thus provided me a smoother transition to the RN role.

What was the career transition process like?

I had to divide and manage my time between being a full-time student, full-time employee and full-time mother of three. I took the IEN Nursing Program only offered by York University. It was a 22-month intensive program targeted to address the gaps between IEN’s qualifications (such as education, safe practice, English proficiency) and the Canadian standards of practice. I completed the program in August 2022 and started working as an RN in November 2022.

What does it mean to you that Unity Health supported this career growth and transition?

I owe a huge part of my success for transitioning to the RN role and advancing my career growth to the ED management, CAs and RNs. Their consideration and support in terms of arranging my schedule meant a lot to me. I am very thankful to my co-CAs who helped me with short-notice shift switches and the ED RNs who lent me nursing textbooks. I wouldn’t be able to easily transition to my new role if not because of the unwavering support of the group of people mentioned above.

What has been your favourite part of working in the ED?

I am extremely privileged to work with brilliant doctors, nurses and staff in ED who go above and beyond to deliver the best care possible to our clients. My most favorite part of working in the ED is that I am able to freely communicate with my colleagues, especially when I disagree about something. The people that I work with are awesome, they are very open-minded and very welcoming to suggestions and recommendations.

Teni started her career at Unity Health as an RPN.

How did you hear about the opportunity to transition to a different role?

I learned about the opportunity to transition to an RN role through research and discussions with colleagues and mentors within the healthcare field. I love studying, so I had always known I would go back to school for my degree.

What was the career transition process like?

The career transition involved enrolling in a bridge program specifically designed for RPNs aiming to become RNs. This program typically included advanced coursework in nursing theory, leadership, pharmacology, and clinical skills. The duration of such programs varies, but they generally range from three to five years depending on whether they are full-time or part-time.

What does it mean to you that Unity Health supported this career growth and transition?

Unity Health’s support for my career growth and transition from an RPN to an RN meant a lot to me. It demonstrated their commitment to fostering professional development and recognizing the skills and potential of their healthcare professionals. Their support provided me with the necessary resources, guidance, and encouragement to advance in my nursing career and expand my scope of practice.

What has been your favourite part of working in the ED?

Working in the ED as an RN has been incredibly fulfilling. My favorite part has been the fast-paced environment and the opportunity to make a significant impact on patient’s lives during critical moments. Whether it’s providing urgent care, stabilizing patients, or offering emotional support to families, every day presents new challenges and rewards that reaffirm my passion for nursing.

Yoonji started her career at St. Michael’s as a nursing student.

How did you hear about the opportunity to transition to a different role?

I loved the experience I had as a nursing student at St. Michael’s, I wanted to get my foot in the door as early as I could. During the pandemic, my friend told me the government initiated Nursing Extern roles to support the nursing staff. I immediately applied for the position, became an Extern in ED. After working in MHESA, I transferred to ED to broaden my experience.

What was the career transition process like?

Each transition came with a huge learning curve and they all required two or three months of orientation and buddy-shifts. When I transferred from MHESA to ED, I was required to be certified in advanced cardiovascular life support skills, Coronary Care, intravenous insertion, and Advanced Trauma Care for Nurses.

What does it mean to you that Unity Health supported this career growth and transition?

Unity Health has always made sure I had the support I need to grow. With each transition, I had the right supports and education in place for me to succeed. For example, our educators encourage us to sign up for classes and courses that will enrich our skills and keep our practice up-to-date. There is a skills day in ED every year where the educators review our learning needs. Central Education Funding (CEF) funds our education and certification so finance isn’t a barrier to our growth. I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for all the supports and education that Unity Health has provided me.

What has been your favourite part of working in the ED?

The dynamics of ED are unlike any other unit. We’re one of the best team sports that exists. I’m surrounded by go-getters, problem solvers and people that I professionally admire. We are the contingency plan for all aspects of healthcare. A lot goes on in a day in ED and I wouldn’t get through a shift without the supportive colleagues by my side.

Teamwork shines in ED where you’re juggling multiple patients of various acuity and at the same time any age patient with any condition might come through the door. There is endless learning because of the variety of situations you will encounter. You are intellectually stimulated every shift. Your skills need to be refined and you need to be able to make evidence-based decisions but also have creativity and compassion.

By: Shaelyn Winters, Caitie Lehman, and Ana Gajic